new here...pvc sufferer...menopause related?

[rainmor57]

Hi...I'm brand new to this forum and to PVC...what a nightmare so far..I started experiencing them last Nov 2008..I'm 51 yo female and have never had heart problems before...I've survived lots of stress including anxiety disorder with panic attacks (15 yrs ago) and don't recall experiencing heart problems at that time.  I went to ER for the first time day before yesterday and sometimes my heartrate is slow, 50-53 at rest, but not consistently...rapid heartbeat for me is 77!  So, I guess that's bradycardia and also the pvcs which are keeping me awake at night...I have been having them ALL DAY LONG! 3 to 4 every minute...I've heard that hormonal imbalance due to perimenopause can be a factor...anyone have information on that?  Do we have to live with these for the rest of our lives now???? My anxiety is soooo bad and I worry constantly...I am a vegetarian so recently I added fish oil and calcium/magnesium to my diet as well as a liquid multi-vitamin...please help, thank you!

[rainmor57]

Hi! thank you so much for your response...how much magnesium do I need daily? I've introduced fish back into my diet so I can feel comfortable about getting enough protein and other minerals...it's been interesting...I've seen two different doctors over the past week and they really downplay the heart contractions and have stated there is no connection with menopause..well, I've found several forums online where woman are experiencing menopause AND irregular heartbeats so I don't understand why the docs don't see the connect.  Anyway, I feel better this morning...I'm still waking up in the middle of the night with sweats, hot flashes and palpitations but now that I know my heart is in good shape, it's easier to relax and get back to sleep.  I was thinking about using melatonin for sleep aide...this is weird because I've always slept like a baby...oy vey!!  Are you on hormone replacement therapy...I've heard there's natural stuff you can take...know anything about that? Have a great day!

[Encephalomalcia]

Rapid heartbeat can be caused by menopause.  I myself have just started going through it and am experiencing rapid heartbeat, heart feels like it jumps, sometimes heartbeats feel gross like blood rushing through.  My step-daughter is a vegetarian and her heartbeat is in the 50's and blood pressure 90/50.  Vegetarians have lower blood pressure and lower pulse and live longer because of it.  My grandmother had a slow heartbeat and she lived to be 92. Her heart was still strong, but she had cancer.  My grandfather had a rapid heartbeat and he lived to be 76 and died from a heart attack while receiving cancer treatment.  If you find that you have an irregular heartbeat, then it would increase your risk of blood clots.  If that is the case, you should talk to your doctor about taking 81mg aspirin daily to keep your blood thin and platelets from sticking together.  Once a person gets about age 80, the platelets do not stick and the person can actually have a problem with clotting.  Fish oil is great to keep the arteries healthy.  Make sure that you are getting enough of the vitamin B's as many people are not and it is essential for proper heart function.  Be careful with the magnesium as that can damage the liver if taken in too high doses.  One sign is white spots on the body.  This actually happened to me when I was taking calcium/magnesium to keep my hormones level, so I didn't get the ups and downs that hormones create.  Hopefully, the B vitamins will help your stress and anxiety.  My daughters are going through puberty and I am going through menopause, so it is a lot of fun over here!  Take care.